HOW I AM LOSING WEIGHT AFTER 9 MONTHS OF BEING PREGNANT

Top J Crew Factory | Bottoms Loft | Belt J Crew Factory | Scarf J Crew Factory | Shoes Gap | Bag Nordstrom

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     Recently, I have had many people ask me how I am losing my pregnancy weight so fast and my answer is... a simple one; by exercising 3-4 times a week and nursing. I wish I could tell you I have been eating really healthy, but that would be a lie. There is no quick way to lose weight and get skinny; It takes time and determination. The only thing that I have used to help make my stomach flatter, is the bamboo belly bandit. It has helped aid with the healing process, given me back support, helped me lose inches faster in my stomach, encouraged core utilization, and decreased bloating. I am perfectly content with waiting to be a size 6/8 again and letting my body go back down to size with healthier eating habits and exercise as well as nursing. There is no rush to get skinny, because I want to have lasting results. 

     I have definitely lost weight a lot faster after this second pregnancy, but I believe it is because of having to keep up with two kids. I run an average of 2 miles when I work out and do squats, lunges, and a few push-ups randomly. My husband and I just started doing intervals to help with our weight loss and I have noticed a major difference in my thigh size. Nursing has helped shed the baby weight as well, so I cannot take all of the credit. This is one of the many benefits to breastfeeding that I am thankful for. 

     My best advice is to not buy in to 'get thin quick' schemes. Losing weight takes time if you want to keep it off in the long run. Enjoy food, but make healthy choices when it matters. I tend to eat pretty well throughout the day. I snack on apples and avocados and dig in to my dessert after dinner. I would love to stay away from sweets if it were humanly possible, but I enjoy them too much and I am not willing to give them up. 

     If you have specific questions you would like to ask about my regiment, please feel free to ask. 

FLORALS, BRIGHTS, AND FIT & FLARE

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MOTHER TUCKER NURSING TANK SAVES THE DAY

Top J Crew Factory | Bottoms Loft | Bag Nordstrom | Necklace RocksBox | Shoes Gap

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     Getting ready has been a lot more fun recently with my 'Mother Tucker' to hide my flab and folds. I may be 25, but I have some extra skin from having Matthew and that is A-okay. My Mother Tucker nursing tank is made by Belly Bandit and helps me to hide my current muffin top, holds my nursing breasts up, and supports my back. I love the soft material and am so thankful for an under garment that keeps everything together. I feel like I have my body back while I am wearing my Mother Tucker and my favorite part is being able to discreetly nurse Matthew in my not so nursing friendly get-ups. 

     If you are looking for a soft and cozy top to keep your body curvy and flat, I highly suggest buying this top. I also use it as my lingerie to keep my milk intact while being intimate with my husband and I couldn't be more grateful. Hurry over and get yours today!

     

SHIFT DRESS: PINK BLUSH

Dress Pink Blush | Sunnies Loft | Shoes J Crew Factory

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     Traveling this summer has been quite enjoyable and I have been able to check off a lot of items from my summer bucket list. Recently, my husband and I explored the Bull Run Winery in Virginia, where we did a wine tasting consisting of: six white wines, five reds, and three sweet wines. They were absolutely delicious! Our favorite wines are their Riesling, 2013 Merlot, and their Peach wine. The best part about their wine tasting is that you get to take home a complimentary wine glass with their logo. We ended up liking their Riesling so much that we bought a bottle to take home and drink on a special occasion. 

     In getting ready to head out to the Winery, I grabbed my easy breezy shift dress from Pink Blush. I wanted to wear something that felt effortless to keep me cool in the humidity. I was looking to make a bold statement; nothing too fancy, but nothing too casual either. This dress has the best of both worlds and here is why: the crochet neckline says "I'm comfy and laid back" while the blue color block says "watch out, I'm here and I'm fabulous."

     You can receive 20% off your first purchase at Pink Blush right NOW when you sign up with your email. 

FIT & FLARE SCALLOP DRESS

Dress Pink Blush | Sunnies LOFT | Shoes Jack Rogers

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     Our trip to Georgia was a success! The kids were really great on the drive down to Georgia and Riley only had two short melt downs when her iPad ran out of battery. I was honestly surprised as to how well the trip went. I thought that it was going to be worse. If anything, I feel like I was the whiney one on the trip. I was so focused on making sure the kids had what they needed for the trip that I completely neglected my own needs. I felt antsy and discontent. I didn't know what to do with myself. 

     After arriving in Georgia we were greeted with a hug of heat and a slobbery kiss from humidity. The weather was beautiful the first day we got there, but extremely hot. To kill some time before the rehearsal dinner, we decided to walk around the mall and stroll through the park. I wore this Pink Blush scallop dress during our exploration and felt like a southern bell. I kept imagining one of Nicholas Sparks' novels and his dewy evenings or warm sunny days where the main female character is looking fabulous. 

     The fit and flare shape of this dress makes me look like I have a small waistline and after having kids I surely appreciate this illusion; your body starts to look flabby and deformed. It is quite comical to see yourself in the mirror and not recognize your own body, so this dress is a fashion life saver. If you are looking for something cute and flirty, this is the perfect dress for you.  

BUY 2 GET 1 FREE ZOTOS 180PRO HAIR CARE

     Friends! Have you seen this sale at Sally's? They are doing a 'Buy 2 Get 1 FREE Hair Care' sale. If you haven't already jumped on the bandwagon and started using Zotos hair care products, I suggest you start now and take advantage of this amazing deal! I love styling my hair with 180PRO. My ends are starting to look healthy and my hair looks on point. Not a long post, because this sale speaks volumes. Happy shopping!

PINK BLUSH 'SHADES OF BLUE' DRESS

Dress Pink Blush | Jacket J Crew Factory | Clutch Kate Spade | Shoes Jack Rogers

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This Pink Blush dress makes me feel like I am roaming the streets of Greece (no, I haven’t been there), but these colors fit perfectly with every picture I have ever seen. I imagine their white buildings with blue doors and windows and immediately take myself there. I think as adults we don’t use our imagination enough and that can make life really boring. I find that using my imagination helps me to enjoy life a little more. I am able to picture things that I would like to experience in life and I try to play them out in real time with my family; I have to make things fun!

Sometimes at the age of 25, I feel like a 40 year old woman because I breastfeed Matthew. I tend to dress on the frumpy side if I know I am not going anywhere for the day due to constantly having to pull out my breasts to feed my son (trust me it isn’t cute).  I wanted to feel different and wearing this dress made me feel young and sexy again.

I love how I was able to dress it down for a casual look that felt effortless with my denim jacket and ponytail. If I had a pair of white chuck taylors, I would have thrown them on for a more casual look. I can think of many ways to style this dress, but the direction I chose is simply one way to do so.

NAUTICAL ROMPER

Romper J Crew Factory | Jacket J Crew Factory | Shoes J Crew Factory | Bag Kate Spade Outlet | Watch Kate Spade 

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     Walk the town this week with ease wearing a romper and slip on some boardwalk sandals for a simple look. The best part of this outfit is that it is one piece! I didn't have to go searching in my closet for a matching top and bottom. Plus, when I sweat, it doesn't show! This summer has been hot & humid, so finding outfits that hide my sweat is a must. I already feel a hot mess and don't want to look like one too. The kids keep me so busy that I need easy and comfortable clothing. I tend to pick items that have a masculine feel; nothing too frilly. 

     Nursing has also been made very easy in this get up. I slide one shoulder off and latch Matthew on and cover up immediately after feeding him with little to no struggle. The stretchy material makes for a fast get away and I can quickly return to my endeavors.